What you need to know about Naperville’s Washington Street project

Visiting downtown Naperville may look a little different starting Monday.

An $8.5 million streetscape project covering Washington Street from Chicago Avenue to Benton Avenue kicks off Monday.

The work includes replacing an aging water main, rebuilding Washington Street and replacing sidewalks.

In addition, the project, expected to last through October, will include the addition of planters and street furniture where possible.

Motorists can expect lane reductions along Washington Street starting Feb. 15, Naperville project manager Katie Rubush said.

However, the city plans to keep one lane open in each direction throughout construction to accommodate traffic in the downtown district.

“We’re already at one lane in each direction for the Washington Street bridge construction,” she said. “That lane reduction will be extended north to Benton Avenue.”

If road closures are needed, those will occur overnight with roads reopening in time for morning traffic, Rubush said.

Walkways will remain open during construction to accommodate foot traffic in the busy downtown district. Rubush, however, said at times sidewalks may be relocated to the street as work is completed on sidewalks. Parking will not be available along Washington Street throughout construction. Parking is available at the parking structures in the downtown district.

The Washington Street construction project is part of an ongoing city streetscape improvement plan.

In 2022, the city completed work on Main Street from Jefferson to Jackson avenues and along Jefferson from Main Street to Webster. That project cost about $5 million.

Naperville Deputy City Engineer Andy Hynes said the city has two or three more streetscape projects to complete in the downtown area after Washington Street is finished this year. Hynes noted the streetscape project is on an every-other-year construction schedule so engineering work for upcoming projects can be completed in the off years.